New Studies Say Happiness May Be Inherited

Genetics may, indeed, play a much larger role in our development than we first thought, experts say, after a new study has set forth the theory that suggests the predominant feelings our parents experience during their lifetime are transmitted to the next generation. The line of reasoning behind this argument is fairly simple, the researchers say – when parents are predominantly happy or sad, their brains create specific sets of substances, which can then be passed to the germ cells. Once these genes combine, during conception, they may cause the future organism, the child, to be hardwired for a certain mood. Further research into this interesting hypothesis is required, though, scientists caution.

The theory further holds that the chemicals generated by parents' moods, when transmitted to the germ cells, influence the expression of certain genes, which may, in turn, alter the long-term behavior and development of the resulting child. The hypothesis has been set forth in the latest issue of the respected scientific journal Bioscience Hypotheses by a Mexican expert from the Research Center Halabe and Darwich, Dr. Alberto Halabe Bucay. He argues that both hormones and emotion-induced chemicals can have a significant influence during conception, and that they can also alter the later development of the offspring.

“It is well known, of course, that parental behavior affects children, and that the genes that a child gets from its parents help shape that child's character. My paper suggests a way that the parent's psychology before conception can actually affect the child's genes,” the expert adds. He shares that geneticists have known for a long time that chemicals such as the brain-produced endorphine, or marijuana and heroin, have a huge potential to influence the way genes are expressed in future generations. Basically, he states, these chemicals alter the pattern and the sequence in which certain genes are usually activated.

“This is an intriguing idea. We wanted to publish it to see what other scientists thought, and whether others had data that could support or disprove it. That is what our journal is for, to stimulate debate about new ideas, the more groundbreaking, the better,” the Editor of Bioscience Hypotheses, Dr. William Bains, explains the decision to accept the journal for publication, as quoted by ScienceDaily.